More
famous for their covered bridges, Madison County has some other notable
structures - not the least of which is their beautiful limestone courthouse.

Like thousands of early county seats across the country, Madison County's
first courthouse was a log building (1849). The second courthouse
(no date available) was constructed of stone. Not unlike many courthouses
of the period - jail cells were incorporated into the design. In this
case, the prisoners occupied the second floor.

In 1875, Wintersetters were making plans for celebrating the nation's
upcoming centennial the following year. But their second courthouse
caught fire and in four hours it was a complete ruin. They spent 1876
building their third courthouse on the foundations of the second.

The
third courthouse was built of locally quarried limestone and erected
precisely in the center of the county. For $120,000 the people of
Madison County got an oversized dome, four clockfaces and even a 1500
lb bell. The building's height has been given as 122 or 135 feet -
close enough not to argue.

The style is said to be Italianate-Revival and it is proudly listed
on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photographer Ken Rudine was in Winterset attending Madison County's
annual Covered Bridge Festival in October of 2005 when he took these
photos to share with our readers. The courthouse dome here is strikingly
similar to another of Ken's courthouse photos (Presidio
County Courthouse in Marfa,
Texas).